Can-washing machine



Fell 10, 1931- w. H. RENNlE GAN WASHING MACHINE Filed April l5, 1929 RENN/E ATTORNEYS /NvENToR WILL/AM HOWARD Patented Feb. 1Q, 1931 naar! erica CAN-WASHNG MACHINE Application filed Aprn i5,

My invention relates to improvements in can washing machines which are particularly adapted for use in canneries, packing plants and the like.

The objects of the invention are to provide means for automatically receiving cans from a conveyor for scrubbing their opposing ends and their peripheral walls to wash away any of the contents which may have spilled thereover during the prior filling and sealing process, so that they are delivered for labeling in perfectly clean condition.

The invention consists essentially of a circular guide in which is rotatably mounted a circular brushing element for scrubbing the side walls ot the cans and further brushes which are adapted to wash the ends of the cans, as will be more fully described in the following specilication and shown in the accompanying drawings, in which F ig. 1 is a plan view ot the invention with a portion of the drive wheel cut away to eX- pose the circular brushing element.

'ig. 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 2 2 ot' Figure 1.

ln the drawings like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in each ligure.

The numeral 1 indicates generally a hori- 51 :ront-al conveyor chain adapted to be driven in the direction indicated and which is adapted to extend slightly above the bottom level et a pair or' troughs 2 and 8.

r,The troughs 2 and 8 are provided with side walls l and' are curved at their adjacent ends as at 5 and 6 to dellect the cans from the conveyor trough 2 to the machine and from the machine to the conveyor trough 3.

The numeral 7 indicates a trame supported upon legs 8 connected together by transverse members 9 at the intersection ot which a vertical driven shaft 10 is journalled. The frame 7 is arcuate in form and consists of upper and lower members 11 having opposed rebates 12 on their inner peripheral edges, the purpose of which will hereinafter appear.

Secured upon the shaft 10 is a wheel 13 having a rim 14 from which upper and lower flanges 15 extend. The opposed peripheral edges of said flanges are rebated as at 16 andV 1929. Serial No. 355,348.

serve with the rebates 12 of arcuate frame members 11 to form guides and supports for cans to be cleaned. `Fitted -f between the flanges 15 olf the wheel 13 is a brushing element 1? consisting preferably of a plurality oit segmental brushes 18 with their bristles projecting outwards to engage the side walls oi" the cans with a brushing or wiping contact as the wheel 18 rotates in the direction indicated. rlhe brushes 18 are clamped in position between the llanges 15 with set screws 19 and are forced outwards from the rim lll as may be required to take up wear by adj usting screws 2O extending through said rim. y

Extending inwards from the upper and lower members 11 of the arcuate frame 7 are brackets 21 supporting brushes 22 having their bristles facing each other and which are so adjusted as to engage the top and bottom closures of the can. rEhe brushes'22 are arranged in sets and are spaced apart around the interspacebetweenthe wheellandthe arcuate rame members 11 so as to permit the mounting of a plurality of curved pipes 23 having orifices 2e shown in dotted line, along one side so as to direct the water onto the cans as they pass around themachine. The pipes 23 are connected by branch lines 25 to a suitable water supply.

Having thus described the several parts of my invention 1 will now briefly explain its operation.

rllhe water is lirst turned on to supply a suitable spray through the spray pipes and as cans are carried along on the conveyor chain 1 the cans in the curved portion ot the trough 2 are thrust into Contact with the rebates 16 of the wheel 18 against the brushing element 17 and the rebates 12 of the upper and lower arcuate Jframe members 11. The wheel 13 rotating transmits a reverse rotational motion to the cans, the rotation being assisted also by the wheel flanges 15 moving within the upper and lower arcuate traine members. The drive between these members and the cans is not positive, slippage being caused by the brushes 22. Hence a scrubbing action is imparted through the brushing element to the can side walls. The cans in being moved around the interspace between the arcuate frame 7 and the Wheel 13 are passed endwise between the brushes 22 which scrub the opposing ends thereof clean. As the cans reach the end of their arcuate path, those which are passing therealong thrust those ahead along the curved portion 6 of the trough and back onto the conveyor l from which they are carried to the labeling.)T machine.

What I claim as my invention is- In a can Washing machine, a driven Wheel having opposed anges, a guide spaced from the periphery of the Wheel, said Wheel ianges and the guide (3o-acting to support and rotate the cans, and means for brushing the exterior surfaces of the cans.

Dated at Vancouver, B. C., this 4th day of April, 1929.

WILLIAM HOVARD RENNIE. 

